Hidden places and secret symbols in Sighisoara

You can call it also Schaessburg (German), or Segesvar(Hungarian), according to your linguistic preferences or friends you might have in the area, but any visitor would rather call it the Museum town! I don't mean hereby the modern town, consisting on blocks of flats, but the old city with a labyrinth of narrow Medieval streets. They are amazingly well preserved, kept and restaured, and seem to host secrets and vampires.

Sighisoara is first unique through this simple fact, in the all Europe is  the first and the last populated medieval citadel! The town of Sighisoara shows its best wealthiest times between the XVth and the XVIIth century, when not less than 20 guilds (aka professional association) were active here. The towers of the citadel reminds each of such a guild (butchers', skinners', tinners', ropers', furriers', taylors', cobblers' etc). Artists from Salzburg, Bohemia or Koenigsberg came and gone, shorter or longer, according to their contracts. Also diplomates, army rulers or princes have played here the usually chess game, balancing between the Romanian States and the Big Empires.

The spectacular Clock Tower from Sighisoara, during one of the local festivals 

One of the important figures saw here in Sighisoara was Dracula's father, namely Vlad Dracul The Devil, who was belonging to the Dragon order (cruciates fighting against the Turks, carrying on their coat the scaring Dragon!). You can still visit Dracula's birthhouse, which is today a restaurant, even a good one, recommended by myself (ask about Mr. Attila)! Visit further the weapon collection and the torture room, whose walls were the silent witnesses of dying whoops. Afterwards, please climb in the Clock Tower, and observe its rudimentary medieval, but still working mechanism. It makes seven characters to rotate. These seven characters represents the days if the week, being actually colored puppets with the signs of the seven planets, known at that time. The Clock Tower is 64 meters high, and was first build exclusively for military purposes.It protected the main gate of the citadel, hosted the treasure and the sessions of the local council. The four little towers surrounding the central structure show the town Sighisoara having special rights (e.g. jus gladii= the landlords right of punishing the outlaws).

During the Medieval festivals from Sighisoara, it is usually to see such fights between the knights, caused by  a beautiful young lady!

Another very interesting target for your trip to Sighisoara is the Hills Church. You can reach it by climbing a covered stairs. It has been build between 1345 and 1525, with a good etnographic museum and sculptures inside. Outside, also to mention, the cemetery. The name of the craftsmen on the tombstones won't tell you anything, but observe the interesting masonry signs, e.g. the square, the divider and the eye. Maybe you are going to like history on this way, but please don't disturb the silence of this place. From the hill you can get also a splendid view of the entire town.

Best times to visit Sighisoara could be during the local festivals (but the town is overcrowded and you need prior reservations!):
-Medieval Art Festival, during the last weekend of July
-Academic Music festival, 1-10 August
-Proetnica Minorities festival, 24-25 August

Visiting Sighisoara, in the heart of Transilvania

Nowadays Sighisoara only counts 30 000 inhabitants, a small town also. But professionally speaking, is the uncrowned capital of the touristic Romania.

On the narow Medieval streets of Sighisoara fortress. You may see the Clock Tower.

Reaching Sighisoara from any direction, you will be mesmerized by its clean Medieval aspect. A masterpiece indeed, so nice, that many people ask : " How was Sighisoara spared by the destroy of the Communism?" If you are familiar with the German Gothic and Baroque architecture, you will be at home in Sighisoara! Which had been for centuries a Saxon city and fortress in Transilvania.

During the Carnivals of Sighisoara, the Medieval toilets are a must

The Fortress of Sighisoara (German Schassburg) is very well preserved and probably once again unique, as it is still populated today. Some of the local German Saxons come back in pension, due to the low costs of life in Romania. Within a short walk you can reach the Clock Tower (requires reparations), History Museum, Dracula House, and the wonderful Fortress Square. A little bit further, after a short ascension over 200 stairs you can reach the Church Hill and have a wonderful panorama of the city. The Church is worth a visit ( a small fee to be paid) as hosts some interesting artefacts from other fortresses of Transilvania, and has a centuries long history behind. The neighboring cemetery is very interesting and again historically significant, with the graves of many German rulers and archbishops. After all these efforts you will be rewarded in one of the town's many restaurants, maybe even in Dracula House! Is not the only one in Sighisoara, of course, but has excellent service and  good King's meal. About the price, don't forget the Historical charge.

Eating in Dracula House is still an event, and fortunately not a dangerous anymore

If you are tired, and it is summer, forget any hope to get a room, the town is overcrowded. You need reservation and booking, of course. Even at Binder Bubi, the best hotel in the town, with 5 stars, everything is booked. Also important, in summer there is a medieval festival on the last Sunday of July, with camp fires and fancy toilets. Keep in mind, is important, maybe you want to take part, or you want to avoid.

Restaurant of the Hotel Binder Bubi Sighisoara proudly holds its *****

So many things to do in Sighisoara. It is surely a mistake coming to Romania and neglecting Sighisoara!

The fortresses from the heart of Transilvania

Transilvania is an important consisting part of Romania, a little bigger than the third of the country.Very nice, very civilised and western oriented, a proud of all Romanians.

The Carnival in Sighisoara is probably the best place for starting the discovery of Medieval  Transilvania

It has a trembled history, and in Middle Age has been ruled by Hungarians, who brought German Saxons for help in organizing and defending the country. The German Saxons (Franken actually) build every settlement on the same blueprint: a central citadell consisting of a fortified church, where all the people should withdraw and fight against the invaders during long sieges.

Eating in Dracula house is nowadays a peaceful event, who doesn't scare anyone. But all the meals are garlic based, in order to keep the bad spirits away.

In the middle of the Romanian Transilvania there are 700 very well preserved medieval sites, forming an amazing UNESCO inheritage . With a group of Norwegian tourists lead by Kjell and F1 driver Oivind from PR Norge and on behalf of Karpaten Turism  we drove four days long to discover the forgotten Paradise from Middle Age.

The man in this photo is Serge Gunnar ( a sultan with Asian and African ancestor.  A fine friendly man, whose friendship I am honored to have became)

Sighisoara is doubtless the peak of all Medieval fortresses from Transilvania. Because the town only counts 20000 inhabitants, the life even today is organized around the citadell. There are many Medieval Festivals to the delight of  the tourists and locals. It is normally in Sighisoara walking on the streets in the complicated evening gowns from Middle Age. In the Dracula house there is today an excellent restaurant, making sensational dinners with lots of garlic, specially for avoiding the bad spirits. From the town very many hotels and restaurants we made the best possible choice: Binder Bubi *****, which was an excellent host and we regretted very much when we had to leave.

Norwegian tourists in the citadell of Sighisoara; you can see the  clock tower

But only with the consolation to stay three days long in Binder Bubi Medias ****! Still try to understand this difference of one star, and did not succeed, as this hotel has the same high quality standards from Sighisoara, and even a swimming-pool, which is not available in Sighisoara. Medias is twice so big than Sighisoara, but has not such a tourist circulation. Or, maybe, being so big, the touristic circulation is not so obvious! Every little streed from Medias was in reparation, the town very dusty and dirty, but worths a long stay! From Medias we visited also Sibiu, gone to a winetasting in Ganesti/Seuca. It is to mention in Binder Bubi, both Medias and Sighisoara, the house wine, which is very good and only costs 18 RON ( no matter if the Red Cabernet or the White Sauvignon! With your permission Serge Gunar, and of all ladies around you)

A good friend and a good driver was always Oivind; here working in the yard of Binder Bubi Sighisoara.